Giving me butterflies, indeed! My first full 5 star read of the year is here.

I utterly adored Give Me Butterflies. It was perfect to me. Just perfect.

Millie and Finn are coworkers who initially don't initially get along, yet constantly gravitate towards (even if that means walking into) one another. After some initial misconception and temporary grumpiness from him, Millie soon sees Finn past his grumpy mask into a man who carries the heavy burden of a loved one's loss and his absolute determination to provide the best life for his whole world-- his nieces from whom he is sole guardian. Breaking that initial wall down between is the first true step into wanting to be in each other's orbit. However, as Finn is part of a judging panel that will decide a potential promotion for Millie, she draws a line that seeks nothing past friendship. But gravity is gravity-- and the pull can't be helped. Nor can it be helped how the most beautiful love story can blossom when we just let ourselves fly.

Finn is doing his absolute best to take the best care of and raise his nieces with the love and dedication. After losing his sister (the girls' mother) to illness, Finn has taken the role of parent to his nieces. And he wants to ensure they remain his priority and he never lets them down, the way his cold parents did to him and his sister time and time again. The dedication is heartwarming, although the fear of a misstep in parenting does lead to misstep in his burgeoning romancing with Millie. However, this stumble is one that I believe will have the reader sympathize with Finn rather than be angry at him. He's a green flag man from beginning to ending.

Millie. Lovely Millie. It's no wonder Finn falls so easily in love with. She is empathetic, kind, warm, and a wonderful, contagious dreamer. After seeing the true Finn he slowly but steadily gets to know him better-- and his girls. Those Fridays at his place were the most fun to read. I also adored seeing the burgeoning relationship between Millie and the girls. Oh! how readily she became part of their world, and how welcoming she and her family were of the girls when they met. Finn takes such good care of them, but it's heartening watching those girls experience love from an extended family in a way they hadn't before.

It's also heartening to watch Millie learn to trust again. After surviving a toxic relationship, Millie has many good reasons to not want to cross any lines with Finn, but along the way his words and actions demonstrate to her that she should keep her heart open. That there are hands she can hold that are full of trust, of safety, of love.

And just as she learns to trust, Finn learns to live. To live fully. Millie becomes the sun he orbits, that his girls orbit. She lights their lives up with laughter, music, and some delicious food. She brings home and comfort with her and they fall into her open embrace oh so effortlessly. Like they were always meant to fit. I fell in love with the family they formed. The family they earned.

I also appreciated that amidst the beautiful love story and the bonding found family narrative, Finn doesn't forget his deceased sister and I loved how the narrative touched upon her character and I loved even more a very special way Millie chooses to honor her memory.

Love is the theme. Love of a good, healthy relationship. Love for self. Love for family. Love for true partners. It's a beautiful theme that teaches us our worth in having love in our lives, and how to always cherish it.

Millie and Finn are so deserving of their love and I'm thrilled to have read their story. It's a book I will be recommending to all!

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.